Long-term monitoring of the airborne microbiome reveals consistent seasonal patterns, according to a study. Microorganisms are continuously injected into the atmosphere, with potential implications for ecology, biogeochemistry, and human health. To survey the airborne microbiome, Emilio Casamayor and colleagues carried out high-throughput sequencing of 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes in rain and snow samples collected twice per month for 7 years at a high-elevation research site in the Central Pyrenees, Spain. The authors also used modeling to analyze the chemical composition of rain water and determine the source of airborne microbes. The diversity and source of microbial genera varied consistently across seasons. Both bacteria and eukaryotes showed higher diversity in the winter versus summer. Airborne bacteria were closely related to aquatic, cropland, and urban biomes in summer. By contrast, winter predominantly included bacteria closely related to terrestrial, forest, and marine biomes. Microbial eukaryotes from freshwater were abundant in summer, whereas forest-related biomes predominated in autumn. Moreover, most sequences were highly similar to those previously described, highlighting the capacity of airborne microbes to globally colonize and influence distant environments. In the face of climate change, connected global sampling networks to monitor the airborne microbiome are required, according to the authors.
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Article #18-12826: "A long-term survey unveils strong seasonal patterns in the airborne microbiome coupled to general and regional atmospheric circulations," by Joan Cáliz, Xavier Triadó-Margarit, Lluís Camarero, and Emilio O. Casamayor.
MEDIA CONTACT: Emilio Casamayor, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes-Spanish Council for Research, Blanes, SPAIN; tel: 34 972336101; e-mail: casamayor@ceab.csic.es
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences